Our History

Flavored tobacco products were driving the youth nicotine epidemic, which erased nearly two decades of progress to reduce youth commercial tobacco use. The alarming rise of youth vaping goes hand-in-hand with the insidious impact of predatory marketing the commercial tobacco industry targeted at underserved communities. 

Raising the state tobacco age aligned the state with federal law and kept tobacco products out of middle and high schools. Minnesota was the 25th state to adopt Tobacco 21. 

During the difficult and unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center wanted to help individuals and families create simple and healthy recipes from home. With contributions from award-winning, local Minnesota chefs, the Center created this digital cookbook to provide accessible, affordable and healthy meals anyone can create and enjoy.